About

I became a therapist through a curiosity for listening to stories and experiences, and understanding that everyone is capable of having space for free expression. My work as a therapist is inspired by wanting to help you feel prioritized in your life, continually building your narrative by understanding how your experiences have helped shape your identity. Part of my enjoyment in being a therapist is being able to create a space for you to be heard and listened to in a nonjudgmental manner. Coming from a Chinese-American background, I was also motivated by the stigmas and stereotypes that encompass what mental health and therapy is in many populations; inspiring me to work with those who have been too afraid to seek help. My hope is that those affected by these barriers can recognize the impact that expression can have as a source of empowerment. I was also interested in learning about how our thoughts and views have been influenced by both our past and present; including our interactions with others and our environment.

I enjoy working with people who are experiencing issues with life stage transitions, acculturation, relationships, anxiety, and grief. Within these experiences, I focus my work with adults, young adults, and college students who are seeking to understand themselves and become more emotionally aware of their experiences. My goal is to allow the space and power to write your story in your own way and to understand yourself better. I also work with couples needing a secure space to express yourselves freely and allowing you to explore the patterns, differences, and dynamics of the relationship and how these experiences impact your lives together. I also place a strong focus on Asian Americans struggling with their identity and navigating multiple cultures and life transitions. Understanding the importance of adhering to many cultural and familial expectations can be difficult, and I believe it is important for us to emphasize these factors in our work together. We might struggle with recognizing the emotions that we feel because we may have never been taught how to hold space for them. That being said, my goal is to work with you to learn how to accept them not as a handicap, but as a tool to help you navigate through challenges. I am also able to work with Cantonese-Chinese speaking clients in a limited capacity. That is, I can listen and understand your dialogue and will respond primarily in English but can also respond with limited Cantonese at the same time.

My work with clients is found in the rapport that we have together; finding common ground in similar interests and systems and diving deeper from there. The focus is always on your priorities, what you bring to the table and what you feel comfortable sharing. My approach is rooted in psychodynamic theory: focusing on unconscious processes and past experiences, and how they are brought into our present day experiences. I also place focus in a cultural lens allowing clients to come as they are, understand who they are, and be who they strive to be. In this way, my goal is for you to feel heard and understood. We can explore in depth your thoughts, relationships, vulnerabilities, and even your everyday life. Nothing is off the table. We can also struggle grappling with the emotions that we feel because we may have never been taught how to hold space for them. My goal is to work with you to learn how to accept them not as a handicap, but as a tool to help you navigate through life challenges. When working with me, I always strive to make the space that we work in as comfortable as possible. What that means is not passing any judgment or criticism towards anything being addressed. I can also be incredibly direct with my clients, which has helped them reflect and take action more firmly for themselves. I want to give you the space to express yourself as you are, and to discover how to take that out into your walking, living world. In the end, I see my clients as people who are able to express themselves vulnerably, constantly changing; and I want to help you feel empowered in that vulnerability.